- Vietnam Private Tours
- Splendours of Vietnam - Private Tour
Marvel in the delights of this in-depth journey spanning the entire length of Vietnam. Discovering rich history whilst exploring more remote areas, this tour combines famous landmarks and hidden gems. Experience this country of contrasts encompassing traditional floating markets, beautiful beaches of Hoi An, and the ancient imperial city of Hue.
Breakfast & Dinner
Also known as Ho Chi Minh, the dynamic city of Saigon is the start point of the tour. Spend half a day visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, the former Presidential Palace and the War Remnants Museum before enjoying a local Vietnamese welcome dinner.
If you are arranging your own international flights, free airport transfers are available and included in the price. Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the tour starts and you will need to provide your inbound and outbound flight details.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, visit Mr Kiet’s Ancient House. Exploring this traditional house, taking in the amazing architecture and the range of antiquities and priceless ceramic products. Visit a small family business and immerse yourself in the nature of Binh Hoa Phuoc Village. Fresh river food, traditional folk music and a bonsai garden await you before continuing to Vinh Long and then on to Can Tho, the largest town in the Mekong Delta.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Your morning in Can Tho will begin with a gentle trip through the picturesque canals and waterways in a small boat, taking in the sultry scenery and daily activities of the small boat vendors of the floating markets who live along these Mekong canals, as well as stopping at the spectacular Cai Rang floating market - the largest in the entire Mekong Delta. Before cruising back to land enjoy tasting tropical fruits at a local garden. After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant you have the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Breakfast & Lunch
Depart for the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extensive underground network that played a crucial role during the American War. These tunnels, stretching over 200 kilometres, were never discovered by American forces and served as vital Viet Cong bases. Dug by hand, the tunnels connected command posts, hospitals, shelters, and weapon factories, offering a fascinating glimpse into the ingenuity and resilience of the Viet Cong. After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer back to Saigon airport for your flight to Nha Trang.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast transfer to the pier for a boat trip to Mini Beach for sunbathing and swimming. Water activities will be available at your own cost. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on the island before returning to Nha Trang and a visit to Ponagar Tower, an impressive Cham Temple built between the 7th and 12th centuries and It's thought this site was first used for worship as early as the 2nd century AD.
Breakfast & Dinner
Today explore the secluded Dai Lanh beach which stretches over 2km, a natural beauty with chalky sand, lush mountains and casuarina trees. After visit a local village where you can see how local's make fishing basket boats which are still used by many fishermen today. Travel onwards to Quy Nhon and enjoy an afternoon at leisure.
Breakfast & Lunch
Start your day off at Sa Huynh Beach, Which is home to hundreds of households that make a living from fishing. The beach stretches about 5km and is shaped like a crescent moon. Journey on to Hoi An and stop on the way to visit the Son My Memorial, a memorial to victims of the My Lai Massacre, which took place in 1968.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
From your hotel, you will be taken to a port where you will embark on a boat trip to Thanh Ha pottery village to learn about the daily life of the local people that live there. See various pottery items being made before returning to the boat to visit Kim Bong carpentry village where you will learn about the history of the village and see their local handicrafts. This afternoon enjoy a tour of Hoi An. You will visit the Japanese Covered Bridge Pagoda, constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community. Next see the Sa Huynh Museum which contains exhibitions from the earliest period of Hoi An's history. You will also see the Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall, a Chinese pagoda dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea. Finally, finish the tour with a visit to a lantern making workshop and visit one of the many local tailors who can make up bespoke clothing at incredible prices.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
The scenic drive from Hoi An hugs the coastline to Hue, the former capital of Vietnam. With a stop at the Marble Mountain to see the five marble and limestone hills, you will then reach Hue to visit the ancient Forbidden City. You will have some free time at Dong Ba Market before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.
Breakfast & Lunch
Begin your day by boarding a traditional Dragon boat for a tranquil trip along the Perfume River. Stop at Thien Mu Pagoda, then travel by road to Royal Mausoleums of Emperor Tu Duc, who ruled Hue over 100 years ago, before visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Royal Tomb of Khai Dinh. This evening, fly to Hanoi.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
A full day tour of this historic city begins with the Ho Chi Minh Complex where the father of modern-day Vietnam declared the nation's independence in 1945. Visit sites including the Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda, then drive to the Temple of Literature. After lunch, visit the Hoa Lo Prision before the evening highlight - a Water Puppet Performance, a unique form of Vietnamese art derived from the wet rice civilisation of South East Asia.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Depart for Ninh Binh and take a boat trip to visit Tam Loc floating past idyllic rice fields, limestone karsts, and mountain landscapes. During the boat ride, you’ll pass through some of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam offering you the chance to see some of the regions unique geology. Explore Hoa Lu in the afternoon stopping at the temples to the Dinh & Le Dynasties. The Temple of Le Dai Hanh was dedicated to the emperor of the Le Dynasty and was known for its expansion of Vietnam’s territory and consolidation of power. This temple offers a glimpse into the importance of the Le rulers in Vietnamese history.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This memorable day takes you to the awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage Site Halong Bay where you will explore these tranquil islands on a traditional wooden cruise boat, passing local towns and intricate limestone formations on the way. Sail to the narrow arched Luon Cave and embark on a kayak or bamboo boat to get closer to this impressive formation which has a maximum height of 4 metres - depending on the tide! After, enjoy some swimming at Ti Top (Titov) beach. Back on board, enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail party and a cooking demonstration class before savouring a delicious set dinner in the dining room. Evening activities are available including night time squid fishing. Please note: the Halong Bay cruise itinerary may change depending on the boat used.
Depending on the weather and which beaches can be accessed, there is an opportunity to climb up the side of Titov Mountain and witness an impressive view over Halong Bay. There are roughly 450 steps to reach the top. This is optional and not a guaranteed activity, but if you do wish to do it, then please pack suitable shoes just in case.
Brunch & Dinner
Awake to the rising sun's glistening reflection from the centre of Halong Bay and begin your day with some calming Tai Chi. After, explore Sung Sot cave - one of the largest and most beautiful caves in Ha Long Bay. The cave has some unique rock formations which couldn't be found anywhere else. Return on board and sail towards Halong International Cruise port where you will disembark and head back to the capital of Hanoi for a farewell dinner. Please note: the Halong Bay cruise itinerary may change depending on the boat used.
Breakfast
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK, or continue on to your chosen extension.
If you are arranging your own international flights, free airport transfers are available and included in the price. Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the tour starts and you will need to provide your inbound and outbound flight details.
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The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
A visa is not required for stays up to 45 days for British Passport holders travelling to Vietnam. All customers are required to fill out a digital arrival card when arriving at Saigon airport. The card must be filled out before arrival on the Vietnamese Government’s website https://prearrival.immigration.gov.vn/. Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. Passports must have at least 6 months validity from your date of entry and a minimum of 2 blank pages. However, we strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
All our tours feature a “Tour Pace” to help find the right holiday for you. To travel on any of our tours requires unaided mobility and the ability to stroll around the sights, climb stairs and get on and off coaches and boats. The tour pace of Splendours of Vietnam is rated as Intermediate. A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. You will be walking around the sights, getting on and off coaches, boats and climbing steps which may be irregular. You will stay in variety of hotels throughout the tour. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong, known as VND. You can exchange your currency in Vietnam, however, US Dollars are widely accepted in Vietnam should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive in the country. Cash machines will also be available throughout the tour in order to withdraw money in local currency. Money can be exchanged at the airport or branches of government banks. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most hotels and some shops and restaurants.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks. Approximately £100 - £200 will be sufficient for the duration of the tour.
Tipping is not compulsory and is at your discretion. However, Should you wish to tip in Vietnam we recommend you tip your guide approx. USD $4 per person per day and your driver approx. USD $2 per person per day. Please note tips on the cruise ships are not included either and would recommend USD $2 per person per day. Additionally, If you want to tip your Bell boy, porter, Boat Crew etc this is up to your discretion.
This is a fully escorted tour, meaning that you will be met on arrival by your national guide who will remain with you for the duration of your trip. You will also be joined by a local guide in each of the cities which you visit, ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Vietnam. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs. Due to your flights landing early in the morning on arrival day we have arranged an early check in for you so you can freshen up before your tour commences.
Boats
During this tour you will be boarding various vessels. Cabins come with en suite facilities and air conditioning. However room size can be restrictive, If you would like to take a smaller overnight bag on to the ships this can be arranged by leaving your larger luggage on your tour bus overnight at your own risk.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information. Vegan, vegetarian options are available, all meal requests need to be sent over to our suppliers before travel.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way, so to ensure your comfort and well-being, two bottles of drinking water will be provided on touring days.
If you are travelling within the below Vietnamese Public Holidays, please note that celebrations can last several days and during these times some businesses will be closed. Coach, air, and train travel may also be affected. Tourist attractions will generally remain open but may be crowded. In Vietnam, key holidays include Tet Holiday (between January and February), International Labour Day (1st May), Reunification Day (30th April), and National Independence Day (2nd September). During these times, the atmosphere can be lively with various cultural celebrations taking place across both countries.
During visits to Churches/Temples please note both men and women need to wear long trousers or skirts to cover knees, Tops with sleeve’s should be worn to cover shoulders.
On your arrival in Saigon you will be met by a representative from our local agent, LV Travel, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/LV Travel representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries.
Please find below the emergency contact details for LV Travel head office, Hanoi.
Contact Telephone number: Anna Hanh Office: 0084 865 016 939, Mr Len Office: 0084 989 200 116, Emergency cases: 0084 888713289
24 hour e-mail: operation@lvtravel.vn or len@lvtravel.vn
